Just today, a commenter on this blog plead for the end of the “Zionistic” aggression. While I intended to reply as a comment, I have determined instead to post this as an entry as a general response to the Lebanese cries that have obviously been manipulated by Hezbollah.
Please take my comments in the context of not having any animosity toward the Lebanese people and with the understanding that I sympathize with the horrific events that your people are experiencing now. As an American, I cannot fully comprehend your plight but I do have some idea of what it feels like to live in a nation under attack. September 11th is still very vivid in my mind along with the confusion, pain and turmoil that went with it.
With that said, as a people, you have full control of your destiny. To quote a wise group of men:
“When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
‘Round about 230 years ago, my nation recognized oppression by the British Crown. We recognized that this was an internal threat to a free-loving people and as an internal conflict, it must be resolved internally. As a young group of States, we revolted against the political influences that oppressed us. We had no model for this in the world as so many burdgeoning democracies do today. We resolved it in ourselves that this internal oppression must cease and desist and we resolved to make it happen.
Your people must take responsibility for its own self. You cannot blame Israel. You cannot blame the United States. Your own “political” entity, Hezbollah, is responsible for the atrocities in Lebanon. In the same way that you react with pain to the death of your own innocent people, you must recognize the pain that Israel too is experiencing. You must recognize that the United States is no more to blame for arming Israel as you would think Iran or Syria is for arming Hezbollah. While the humanitarian benefits you recieve from Hezbollah are beneficial, they are extorting your good will. While you grieve the loss of your innocent life, your politicians and militants vow the destruction of another civilized people.
How do you justify that position? How do you clamour for your own freedom from death and destruction while your Hezbollah inflicts it on others?
I do not attempt to persuade you with Western philosophies or so-called wars on terror, or eliminating enemies, etc. I appeal to you on a human level to see beyond your own fears and grieving to see the wider world and the devastation inflicted on Northern Israel.
Does any of it make sense? Can a free loving people (all people, not only Lebanese or Israelis) exist with such avowed violence?
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Brad Shorr 08.02.06 at 3:16 pm
A more difficult situation there could not be. The hostilities and hatreds run so far and so deep–who can sort it out? But it’s hard for me to see how anyone can sympathize with organizations who target innocent people in the pursuit of some political (let alone religious!) desire. It mystifies me how some people can equate Hezbollah’s tactics with Israel’s.
Brad Shorr 08.02.06 at 3:16 pm
A more difficult situation there could not be. The hostilities and hatreds run so far and so deep–who can sort it out? But it’s hard for me to see how anyone can sympathize with organizations who target innocent people in the pursuit of some political (let alone religious!) desire. It mystifies me how some people can equate Hezbollah’s tactics with Israel’s.
Brad Shorr 08.02.06 at 3:16 pm
A more difficult situation there could not be. The hostilities and hatreds run so far and so deep–who can sort it out? But it’s hard for me to see how anyone can sympathize with organizations who target innocent people in the pursuit of some political (let alone religious!) desire. It mystifies me how some people can equate Hezbollah’s tactics with Israel’s.
Chris Cree 08.02.06 at 9:10 pm
You make a very good point Aaron. Unless folks take responsibility for themselves and stop blaming others they are unlikely to see their situation improve. Our found fathers understood that principle.
Chris Cree 08.02.06 at 9:10 pm
You make a very good point Aaron. Unless folks take responsibility for themselves and stop blaming others they are unlikely to see their situation improve. Our found fathers understood that principle.
Chris Cree 08.02.06 at 9:10 pm
You make a very good point Aaron. Unless folks take responsibility for themselves and stop blaming others they are unlikely to see their situation improve. Our found fathers understood that principle.
George 08.03.06 at 1:05 am
It is horrific to see the loss of human life in this war. It’s a true tragedy.
I do agree totaly with you Aaron. The people in these countries that are doing battle, that cling to the terrorists, need to look at the big picture. It’s not easy to do. If I were a Lebanese citizen I would be upset with Israel as well. However, If you are in Lebanon you need to understand that the UN and your country’s government has let you down by not enforcing the UN resolution passed in 2000. This war is a result of that failure.
Hezbollah’s charter has an entire section in it titled “The Necessity for the Destruction of Israel”
How can you make a lasting Peace treaty with someone whose purpose is to destroy you?
The only choice Israel has is to destroy Hezbollah or be destroyed by Hezbollah. Hezbolah has put the country of Lebanon in the crossfire, that is there fault not Israel’s fault.
You also might find this article to be a good resource if you are looking for more facts and history on this war:
http://www.aish.com/jewishissues/middleeast/Lebanon_Myths_and_Facts.asp
George 08.03.06 at 1:05 am
It is horrific to see the loss of human life in this war. It’s a true tragedy.
I do agree totaly with you Aaron. The people in these countries that are doing battle, that cling to the terrorists, need to look at the big picture. It’s not easy to do. If I were a Lebanese citizen I would be upset with Israel as well. However, If you are in Lebanon you need to understand that the UN and your country’s government has let you down by not enforcing the UN resolution passed in 2000. This war is a result of that failure.
Hezbollah’s charter has an entire section in it titled “The Necessity for the Destruction of Israel”
How can you make a lasting Peace treaty with someone whose purpose is to destroy you?
The only choice Israel has is to destroy Hezbollah or be destroyed by Hezbollah. Hezbolah has put the country of Lebanon in the crossfire, that is there fault not Israel’s fault.
You also might find this article to be a good resource if you are looking for more facts and history on this war:
http://www.aish.com/jewishissues/middleeast/Lebanon_Myths_and_Facts.asp
George 08.03.06 at 1:05 am
It is horrific to see the loss of human life in this war. It’s a true tragedy.
I do agree totaly with you Aaron. The people in these countries that are doing battle, that cling to the terrorists, need to look at the big picture. It’s not easy to do. If I were a Lebanese citizen I would be upset with Israel as well. However, If you are in Lebanon you need to understand that the UN and your country’s government has let you down by not enforcing the UN resolution passed in 2000. This war is a result of that failure.
Hezbollah’s charter has an entire section in it titled “The Necessity for the Destruction of Israel”
How can you make a lasting Peace treaty with someone whose purpose is to destroy you?
The only choice Israel has is to destroy Hezbollah or be destroyed by Hezbollah. Hezbolah has put the country of Lebanon in the crossfire, that is there fault not Israel’s fault.
You also might find this article to be a good resource if you are looking for more facts and history on this war:
http://www.aish.com/jewishissues/middleeast/Lebanon_Myths_and_Facts.asp
Duncan 08.06.06 at 2:19 am
I get what you are saying, and fully agree with it in general, but some of the things the Israeli’s have been doing in Lebannon is beyond the pale. Collateral damage is one thing, the purposeful targeting of civilians is another.
Duncan 08.06.06 at 2:19 am
I get what you are saying, and fully agree with it in general, but some of the things the Israeli’s have been doing in Lebannon is beyond the pale. Collateral damage is one thing, the purposeful targeting of civilians is another.
Duncan 08.06.06 at 2:19 am
I get what you are saying, and fully agree with it in general, but some of the things the Israeli’s have been doing in Lebannon is beyond the pale. Collateral damage is one thing, the purposeful targeting of civilians is another.
George 08.06.06 at 10:51 pm
It certainly is the intent of Hezbollah to put civilans in harms way, but are the Israelis purposefuly targeting civilians? How do we know that is their intent?
George 08.06.06 at 10:51 pm
It certainly is the intent of Hezbollah to put civilans in harms way, but are the Israelis purposefuly targeting civilians? How do we know that is their intent?
George 08.06.06 at 10:51 pm
It certainly is the intent of Hezbollah to put civilans in harms way, but are the Israelis purposefuly targeting civilians? How do we know that is their intent?
George 08.06.06 at 11:16 pm
Also, you might be surprised to learn that some towns in Lebanon are taking up arms to defend themselves from Lebanon. I just wrote about this here.
George 08.06.06 at 11:16 pm
Also, you might be surprised to learn that some towns in Lebanon are taking up arms to defend themselves from Lebanon. I just wrote about this here.
George 08.06.06 at 11:16 pm
Also, you might be surprised to learn that some towns in Lebanon are taking up arms to defend themselves from Lebanon. I just wrote about this here.
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